Apocrypha: The Black Cat & the Sun Dragon
"LAND AHOY!"
Blake sighed gladly as she heard her travel companion bellow from atop the ship mast. She looked over the ship that ferried her from the Continent of Sanus to her home islands of Menagerie. The ship's bow was a mess and a lot of the main deck was cracked and damaged. The remnants of their fight with a fearsome Sei Feilong, a rare Dragonoid type of grim that lurked in the warmer seas of Anima and Menagerie. The sea serpent had ambushed them at night and nearly sunk the cargo ship, its dreadful form wrapped around it and constricting it like a boa.
Unfortunately for it, Blake already had a nap. So she was up, caffeinated and ready to wreck its plans and break its face. Oh, and Sun helped too.
The familiar tail of gold hung above her playfully, the monkey man that it was attached to smiling infectiously. Blake tried to grab it but it fled her grasp.
"Oh, almost!" Sun teased.
Blake snorted, faking losing interest, only to pounce on the cocky tail that poked at her cheek. Sun yelped as Blake caught his tail.
"OW!" He whined. "OKOK, FINE, YOU WIN!"
The cat smirked arrogantly.
"Give me a challenge next time." she goaded playfully.
Sun smiled warmly at his upbeat friend. It wasn't always like this, at least at first. Sun and his team had just returned from their mission at the King Oswald Central Hospital when the news of Hope's disappearance, and subsequent demise, had reached everyone. Sun was crushed by the death of his friend, enough that he had become almost unresponsive when the news broke. It took him a while to recover, and just in time because Blake had come to ask him for a favour. She was miserable at first, clearly hung up on the death of her love, but she was driven as could be. She didn't explain much, other than she had to go back home due to old business that needed to be settled. Business she would need help with.
Business he was happy to help her with.
After a quick talk with his Team, they let him go with a warning that he better come back in one piece or else they would raise havoc. Once that was dealt with, he and Blake boarded one of the few Menagerie-bound ships still ferrying people and travelled the seas back to the island Kingdom of the Faunus. Over the course of the trip back to her home country, she had time to process everything and mourn. Not completely, the business she had Sun help her with was absolutely about avenging Anon and making the White Fang pay for his death. She wasn't truly happy but had returned to an equilibrium.
At least, in public. He did catch her crying when she was alone from time to time.
The ship finally moored on the main dry dock, one of the few modern constructions in the whole of Menagerie, what with its concrete and rebar construction as opposed to bamboo, wood and stone. The pair happily put feet on solid ground with Blake in particular looking ecstatic, inhaling deeply the beach air.
"Home sweet home." she exhaled.
Sun was caught staring with a dumb teasing grin.
"What?" Blake asked, taking the bait.
Sun shook his head with a small smirk.
"Nothing, it's just nice to see you actually happy for once."
Blake rolled her eyes, giving him a small kick in the ass.
"Shut up, let me have this."
The pair walked away from the ship with what little luggage they had brought with them. They walked the cobblestone streets of Kuo Kuana as its citizens milled about on this weekend morning. Blake's expression, once nostalgic, became a bit more serious.
"Thank you, Sun."
The monkey king hummed.
"What for?"
"For agreeing to come along with me."
He shrugged as he put his hands behind his head, walking with a lackadaisical cadence.
"Eh, no probs."
"I mean, I kind of sprung it on you without any real time for you to prepare."
"I always travel light anyways, rule of the desert and all that."
His face hardened comically as he deepened his voice.
"Only carry what you need," He quoted. "The desert is unforgiving and you will suffer your arrogance and curse yourself into your grave!"
Blake giggled lightly.
"What was that!"
Sun smiled nostalgically.
"Old man Ahab back at Shade is our wilderness survival teacher and the biggest pain in every student's ass."
"He sounds fun."
"More like fun sponge, the guy lives to make us suffer."
As they walked, he accidentally bumped into a pair of Auroch faunuses carrying crates. After a quick apology from both sides, it only hit the Monkey King just how crowded the surrounding beaches were. People meandered around in beachwear as stands clogged the streets, selling anything from food to hand fans. Sun hummed curiously.
"S'there a festival going on?" he asked. "Cuz this place is packed!"
Sun didn't expect Blake to sigh so miserably.
"Nope, just everyday life here."
Sun looked ahead toward the city itself and noticed just how many towering buildings there were. It wasn't rare to see seven-story apartment blocs and every last building was at least three stories high. Signs hung from buildings, giving directions towards shops that were inside apartment buildings and there didn't seem to be many full-on shops, as opposed to the near-ubiquitous wandering cart stands. On the horizon, a tasteful mansion sat at the end of the road. Contrasted by the simple buildings, it looked as decadent as could be.
"Busy?" Sun said, trying to be polite as he dodged a wolf girl carrying her pup.
Blake smiled sadly.
"Like sardines in a can. A quarter million people stuck in a region that can realistically hold two-thirds that amount."
"Aren't there other places they could settle?" Sun questioned. "I get the beach is nice and all but even I need some space for me, you know."
She looked at her friend like he said the stupidest thing in the world.
"Menagerie's two-third desert, Sun."
The Monkey King blinked slowly, one eye at a time.
"And?" he replied dumbly.
Blake palmed her face, much to Sun's confusion.
"What?!" he begged to understand. "I'm from Vacuo, I was freaking born in the desert!"
Blake dragged her hand down her face, sighing.
"Right, I forgot about that. Sorry."
She rubbed her head, wondering how to explain the situation to Sun.
"The wildlife, let alone Grimm, are a massive pain to deal with," she explained. "Almost all of the animals are poisonous and we don't have enough medical professionals to treat people or even the facilities to synthesize anti-venoms."
She kept rattling off reasons why Menagerie sucked, which Sun found odd. He loved his kingdom and it felt strange to talk to someone who seemed almost ashamed of their home.
"The soil is completely unworkable. The only vegetation that grows are cacti whose juice makes you trip absolute balls."
Sun stopped in his tracks.
"Wait, Really?"
"Ah huh, you boil it down to kill the harmful chemicals until you get a thick syrup. Then you just put a dab on your tongue for a trip of a lifetime," she confirmed. "It's one of our only exports, apart from coal and bamboo wine."
Sun blinked incredulously, stun locked by the revelation.
"So you guys sell drugs, booze and barbecue supplies?"
Blake had a sarcastic smile.
"Yeah, man. Without us, your parties would be total bummers."
"Huh... That's kind of..."
"Not a good look?"
Sun tightened his lips.
"I mean, Vacuo isn't so different. We also have a pretty bad drug economy, it's just... you know... we don't talk about it like you do."
She sighed sadly.
"It's one of the few things we have. And the one I'm most ashamed of."
"...So I take it you never partook?" Sun joked, trying to add some levity.
Blake glared at Sun, an action that made the man shrink.
"So it's a no?" he asked.
"...It's a complete and utter HELL no."
An awkward silence took hold of the pair as they walked down the main road, the docks slowly giving way to the city. The foreigner in the proverbial room kept looking around his friend's hometown. For once, he was deep in thought and a genuine question left his mouth.
"If it sucks so much to be here, why did you guys stay after the FRR was over? It's not like they could've kept you guys here forever anyhow."
She made an annoyed sound, not directed at Sun specifically but just a general sense of aggravation.
"The Exodus, as we called it, was the result of our glorious leaders back during the Faunus Revolts. We wanted a kingdom of our own and didn't think to ask NOT for the islands of which two-thirds of it was uninhabitable due to completely barren soil."
"Wait, your leaders?" Sun questioned. "I thought the humans were the ones who wanted to centralize the Faunus in one place."
Blake chuckled humourlessly.
"That's the thing, Sun. Both are sadly true. They wanted us gone, and we wanted to be as far away from them as possible. We had rather wanted to isolate and disconnect ourselves from the world, rather than becoming one with it. They segregated us and we jumped on the chance to exile ourselves."
She sighed deeply.
"One of our greatest mistakes... But hey," Her voice cracked. "We have a nation for Faunuses now, for what it was worth."
She let a small but sad smile slip.
"And it's home. My home." She said. "I just hope... I'll be able to make it as great as we all wished it was."
Sun nodded silently, not knowing how to respond to that. The two walked in silence until they were out of the docks and into the city proper. The streets were lined by large multi-story wooden buildings with simple flat roofs, often adorned with gardens if the greenery with specks of colour was any indication. Still, the buildings were far enough apart that the vistas of the beach and mountainous dunes over yonder weren't obstructed. Palm trees grew along the beach and by the sidewalks, giving a neat and fun look to the walking streets. The mansion that stood out on the horizon was much closer, the main road leading right to it, and was utterly lavish in comparison. The roof was stylish compared to the simple sloping and flat tops of the buildings, its warm green tiles contrasting with the earthy-coloured lacquered wood walls. It wouldn't look out of place as some sort of generic government building in Mistral's southern half but here, it was absolutely the governor's personal residence. They kept walking towards the mansion, passing from one neighbourhood to another. Once they did, Sun noticed that Blake was turning heads, a hushed murmur following in her wake.
"Huh, Blake?" Sun whispered. "Are you, like, a local celebrity or something?"
Blake smiled awkwardly.
"Kind of?"
A woman rushed from the street, a massive goofy smile on her face. She was a squat squirrel lady with a big, overbearingly fluffy tail and wide hips that never told a lie in their life. She waved at the pair as she jumped up and down.
"BLAKEY!"
Blake's ears propped up with the same dumb smile the woman had.
"GRANNY SMITH!" she yelled back.
Sun grimaced in confusion.
"Granny?"
The two women charged at each other before colliding into a massive hug. Smith squealed in pure happiness.
"Blakey! You're back!"
Blake lifted the shorter woman up with little effort, showing off the new guns she got at Beacon.
"Yeah, I am!"
She put her old friend down, with the latter looking like she was radiating happiness.
"It's been so long, you have no idea how much I've missed you!"
Blake chuckled lightly.
"I know, you're awfully clingy." she teased.
The squirrel puffed her cheeks with a pout.
"I'm not clingy, I'm affectionate!"
Sun joined the two, with the squirrel looking at the monkey with a gossipy smirk.
"Oh my~ Who's this handsome fellow you've brought home?"
Sun smiled, the sun shining on his pearly whites, causing a twinkle. Blake rolled her eyes at the display.
"He's just a friend I made in Vale." She waved at him, then to Smith. "Sun, this is Sandy Smith. Sandy, Sun Wukong."
The newly acquainted vigorously and enthusiastically shook each other's hands.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Sunny!"
"Same here, any friend of Blake is a friend of mine!"
She let go of the man's hand and smiled conspiratorially.
"If Blake ever gives you a hard time, just call me!" she whispered. "I know her every secret."
Sun winked.
"I'll keep that in mind!"
Blake grabbed Sandy's incredibly squishy cheeks and pulled on them.
"Mweep?!"
"Stop saying unnecessary things, granny."
Sun glanced at the short woman and she didn't look old at all. At worst, she could be a few years older than Blake.
"Why Granny?" Sun asked. "Are you, like, one of those moisturizer freaks who bathe in the stuff to stay young-looking?"
Blake let go of her friend's cheeks, the latter rubbing her reddened face.
"No, it's just that she has old people tastes," she explained. "It just kind of stuck after someone made the remark."
Sandy mumbled to herself.
"Just you wait, Swing music will make a return like pulp novels and art deco have!" She whispered furiously. "Just you wait!"
"Not happening." Blake deadpanned.
Sandy humphed as she turned away. Blake smiled nostalgically as Sandy sulked, like she had done countless times before.
"It's been a while."
The squirrel matched the cat's expression.
"It has. You could have called, you know. We have a Net Transmitter now."
Blake rubbed her arm guiltily.
"Yeah. Let's just say a lot of crazy stuff happened and I didn't find the time." she half-lied, not wanting to have to explain how she turned her back on the Fang.
Sandy nodded, buying Blake's excuse.
"Must have been something big and secretive then." she frowned in worry. "Just hope the Fang hasn't been sending you on those shady missions again."
Her expression fell further.
"Like with Rocky..."
Blake's expression exploded into shock and revulsion.
"Wait, they're sending out fourteen-year-olds on the field now?!"
Sandy nodded grimly, her face drowning in worry.
"Sienna's been ramping up recruitment recently and even green-lit a sort of cadet program. Rocky's been chomping at the bit for an opportunity to join the Fang for a while, so when the entry age was lowered, he jumped at the opportunity."
Sun frowned angrily but if he was pissed, Blake was utterly livid. Her face had turned into a horrid mask of hatred and rage, one that terrified Sandy.
"B-Blake?"
The Black Cat somehow managed to swallow down the urge to march into Sienna's compound and just tear into her with Gambol Shroud.
"And now they're recruiting kids to send into the meatgrinder?" she muttered furiously.
Sandy caught unto what Blake had said, the venom in the way she referred to her old allegiance.
"Blake, did something... Happen?"
Blake's gaze darkened.
"Yeah. Something Happened. And now they've added another thing unto the pile."
Blake sighed.
"Good thing I came when I did. I'll talk about it with Dad once I'm home."
She nodded glumly.
"I hope he can get through to the Khan... I don't want my little brother to get hurt, even if it's for the Fang."
Blake held her tongue, knowing that insulting the Fang on their home turf openly was a good way to earn yourself a summary beating. Not like they stood a chance, and with Sun with her?
'Forget standing a chance,' she thought. 'They're screwed.'
She stopped fantasizing about beating any Fang that came at her and her companion. Instead, she gave one final hug to her old friend.
"Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to him," she swore.
Sandy smiled warmly, her eyes slightly wet.
"Thank you, Blakey."
The cat waved the squirrel goodbye, another oath under her belt, another redemption she'll have to work towards. If Adam can be redeemed, then everyone else in the Fang should be given that chance.
Some exceptions may have to apply... Blake did not look forward to meeting Illia again and she's certain Sienna was a complete lost cause.
Sandy kept waving toward the pair as they walked.
"Take care of Blakey for me, Sunny!"
Sun shot her a pair of finger guns.
"You're asking the wrong person!"
Blake gave him a kick in the ass, one he dodged.
"Oy." She scolded.
Blake could hear Sandy's snorting laughter even as she faded back into the crowd. Sun turned to his travel companion.
"So I'm guessing we're going to see daddy dearest?"
"Please don't call him that." she pleaded. "But..."
She scratched the back of her head awkwardly.
"Yeah, I need to go see him."
"You don't sound too happy." He noted.
Blake hesitated.
"Let's just say he and I left each other on bad terms," she admitted guiltily. "We got in an argument and I've said some things I regret."
Sun gave her a smack on the back, jolting her forward.
"Hey!"
"Quit thinking so much!" he chided. "Just say you're sorry and move on."
"That's easy for you to say," she mumbled. "I really screwed up, especially with everything that ended up happening."
Sun shrugged.
"So what?" he questioned critically. "You think he's stopped loving his daughter just because they had a spat?"
Blake stayed quiet but acknowledged the thought with a nod.
"Only one way to find out. Time to go home."
As they marched down the street and entered what Sun assumed was the upper-class neighbourhood, he began framing the different buildings with his hands. He framed a nice apartment he'd like to live in. A bit cramped, but it looked like it had a killer view of the beach.
"Is it that one?"
"No."
He framed a smaller apartment, with better woodwork than the rest and most definitely belonging to someone of the upper crust.
"That one then?" he asked. "I like the colours! It looks really inviting."
"Nope," she said, popping the p.
Sun grimaced as he spun himself around a couple of times, not bothering to look.
"Is it that one?!" he asked, dazed by his spinning.
Blake smiled in amusement.
"Nailed it."
Sun smiled triumphantly until he realized what he was framing.
The big mansion the road led to.
He blinked incredulously as he pivoted his head toward his travel companion.
"Is- Is that..."
"The governor's estate?" she questioned rhetorically. "Yup."
Sun froze in place as Blake continued on without him. he kept blinking as his hands kept framing the big mansion that belonged to the Island's ruler.
"HUH?!" he yelled into the void as his eyes bulged out.
...
Home, such a warm and soothing concept. One that had grown intimidating after literal years had gone by. She hasn't been home since she was seventeen, three years ago. Three whole years had gone by since her father stepped down as the leader of the Fang, letting Sienna take his place. Three whole years had gone by since she had deserted her family over that stupid ideological spat she had with her father over Sienna's appointment and his retirement from the struggle. Three whole years had gone by since she called him a dropout, a coward, a fool before leaving in a huff to continue her glorious forebearers's legacy. Three whole years had gone by and she never once thought to send them letters, updates, anything.
The shame hit her all at once as she stood in front of her family home.
Was she worthy to open that door she once opened without a second thought? would her parents even be happy to see her again? Would they bother to welcome her again as they did countless times before? Suddenly, Sun groaned, taking her out of her doubts.
"What are you waiting for? Go for it!"
Blake sighed.
"I know it's just... it's been a while."
She took a deep breath, gathering her courage before taking hold of the door knocker. She brought it up and down thrice, each time eliciting a loud bang that could be heard across the mansion.
"One moment!" a muffled voice announced from the other side of the door.
The heavy wooden door opened with a slow swing. In the door frame stood an older woman who was the spitting image of Blake, save with a few crow's feet and very few gray hairs. Her short cut framed her big soft yellow eyes and gave her a gentle motherly air, aided by her comfy monochrome hakama. Her cougar ears bore golden studs that were way too punkish for her traditional garbs, an old reminder of a wilder youth. Kali Belladonna held her mouth in shock as she recognized the woman who stood before her sheepishly holding her arm.
"Blake?" She called out.
The black cat smiled shyly at the cougar.
"Hi, mom."
The older woman's expression hardened as she approached her daughter. Blake braced herself, expecting a slap to the face, one she felt she deserved. In its stead, a warm embrace that made her eyes water enveloped her.
"My baby girl," she said quietly, a peaceful smile on her face as she cuddled her daughter. "You're finally back."
Blake's arms wrapped around her mother's shoulders, burying her face into the crook of her mother's neck.
"I'm back, Mommy," she said quietly to hide the overwhelming emotions constricting her throat.
Heavy steps landed on the wooden floor, a giant shadow looming into view.
"Visitors?" a deep voice asked. "Is it the twins again?"
Out of the shadows came a massive lion man with slicked-back black hair and a beautifully groomed full beard. atop his broad shoulders was a regal purple coat, opened to show off his outrageous carpet of black hair aborning his muscular frame. His chest bush crowned a round belly that was as hard as steel and held the muscles of ten men. The retired King-Lion of the White Fang, Ghira Belladonna, stood tall above all. His eyes widened as he recognized his daughter.
"Blake?"
Once more, Blake stood awkwardly in front of her parent despite her mother still holding on to her.
"Our baby's finally home," Kali announced chipperly.
Ghira was at a loss for words.
"I can see that..." was all he managed to say.
The older woman rolled her eyes as she let go of her daughter.
"You are unfathomably slow."
She walked around her fridge-framed husband and gave him a shockingly powerful shove in the back, throwing him before his child.
"It's your turn to welcome her back!"
Father and daughter stood in front of one another stand-offishly. Ghira was cross-armed, looking at his child with a complex expression. Blake withered under his scrutinizing stare, her bare ears flattening on her skull. Slowly, he raised his hand and spread itself on her head. Ghira gently petted the top of his daughter's head. Blake looked up, her father smiling.
"You have a lot of explaining to do, young lady," he warned despite his smile. "But that can wait."
Blake matched her father's expression, cuddling with her father's huge hand with wet eyes.
"I can live with that..."
Sun grinned as he stood on the sideline, his friend's happiness swelling his heart in turn.
"Told you so."
Blake nodded, a glad smile on her face.
"Glad you were right..."
...
The Belladonna Residence's lounge was a tastefully decorated room, with culturally relevant pieces of art or objects adorning the walls to bring the room together. Sun and Blake sat at a low square table, a nice and comfortable carpet beneath them. Sun sat cross-legged, looking around at the interesting bobbles decorating the room. Blake sat kneeling with a straight back, occasionally glancing in annoyance at her companion. She had to remind herself once more that Sun wasn't a native, so it was a given that he didn't understand etiquette or proper sitting form. Before them sat Ghira, who looked mighty unimpressed by the inattentive Sun. Daughter and Father had a silent word and he nodded in understanding. He had to at least give him a chance, considering he followed Blake all the way from overseas. The clinking of ceramics made both Blake and Ghira smile, one out of nostalgic comfort and the other, just plain pleasure.
Kali's tea was simply irresistible.
Kali set the table, giving each person a small, bowl-like cup made of blackish-brown ceramic. she poured each person a cup of green tea, ideal for cooling down in the warmth of Menagerie. She finally sat down next to her husband and struck conversation with her child.
"It has been quite a long time, Blake."
The cat nodded shamefully.
"It has... I'm sorry for having stayed quiet for so long."
Ghira sipped on his cup.
"Did the Fang send you on a covert operation?" he asked.
She shook her head.
"I haven't."
She looked down.
"I... I left," she admitted.
Ghira and Kali looked at one another.
"I see." Ghira finally said.
It seemed the topic would be something that would be left for later. Right now, no politics, no old scars and wounds, no nonsense. Just them and their daughter, catching up after so long apart.
"What have you been up to in Vale?" Kali asked, smirking in Sun's direction. "I'm quite curious about your friend here as well~"
"You knew where I went?" Blake asked.
Kali glanced at her daughter with an expressionless deadpan. A large drop of sweat fell off behind her head.
"Right, Mata Hari."
Blake sighed.
"I don't know where to start, there's so much to say... But... after I left the Fang behind... I just felt like there was something I needed to do. To make up for everything I was complicit in. So... I decided: Why not become a Huntswoman?"
Blake smiled warmly as she recounted her many misadventures in Vale, her heart swelling with nostalgia at something that happened only a year prior. Sun interjected from time to time, trying to embellish the story with funny quips and comments, at least, during times he was present in the story. Kali listened intently with an amused grin, with Ghira doing the same but feeling like she was omitting something. Nothing malicious but there was definitely something she was withholding from them. The mood took a sour turn when she spoke of the Fall of Beacon and the Ruin of Vale. Ghira ground his teeth as Blake described how the Fang had been bombing buildings and murdering innocent civilians. Kali frowned as she held hands with her daughter as she recounted the tale of a pair of children, lost in a warzone. How they held each other as they whimpered and cried in fear as to what was happening. She and her team had managed to save them, but they couldn't find the green-haired girl's parents. At least, the bunny boy's family took her in until her parents, or their corpses, would be found. Sun added his own tale, of how the Fang had sabotaged the defences people had set up around the King Ozwald Hospital, of their plans to vacate the whole building of human life by attracting grimms towards the breach. Ghira was shaking with rage and Kali was utterly disgusted by the story. The cougar queen sighed, her husband at a loss for words.
"Vale was never perfect, but they were one of the few who stood up for the Faunus during the Faunus Revolts," Kali muttered. "Why would they bring down the only kingdom that has never done anything to us?"
She sighed, in a way already knowing the answer.
"Sienna really has gone cuckoo." she admonished.
Ghira held the front of his face, his grimace that of anger and disbelief.
"What the heck are you thinking, Sienna?" he mumbled.
Blake glared at the void.
"Guess."
Kali held her daughter's hand.
"When we heard the news of Vale... We didn't know how awful it truly was. We were so worried."
Ghira sighed deeply, regaining his cool. He shook his head and glanced at his wife.
"Worried?" he scoffed lightly. "Please, I knew my daughter would be fine."
Kali smirked teasingly.
"Is that so? So I guess you must have been thinking of other things, considering you put a dent on the floor with all that pacing you were doing."
Ghira glared at his wife as a tinge of pink stained his hairy cheeks. Sun took his cup with his tail and chuckled.
"Man, I getcha but y'all were worrying about nothing," Sun said pridefully. "I've seen your daughter in action before and trust me, she's got some moves!"
Sun let out an excited cry as he mimicked some cheesy martial arts movie. he kept flipping the nearly full cup of tea with his tai, nearly spilling it dozens of times only to skillfully save himself.
"I've seen Blake take down a Nevermore with nothing but a full mag, a sharp butter knife and a can of energy drink in her! I've seen her string up a Goliath on a pole with her team and play blindfolded pinata with it!" he hyped up. "She has been kicking Grimm ass with her team since their first day at Beacon!"
Blake snorted.
"We didn't even know each other then, you dork!" she corrected.
"But I could have been!"
She held an agreeing finger up.
"That is true..." she curled her finger. "But you didn't."
Kali couldn't help but smile, looking between her daughter and her friend. Ghira exhaled through his nose disapprovingly as his daughter and her friend bantered.
"I like him," Kali said, already imagining stuff.
Blake glanced at her mother, recognizing that excited glint in her eyes. She blew raspberries before pensively holding her chin, looking intensely at Sun. The monkey king posed, flexing and showing off his muscles. Blake tried to keep a straight face but the idiot just had to smile with the cheesiest grin. She finally broke down in laughter when his teeth twinkled.
"Yeah. I like him too." Blake admitted.
Kali smiled widely.
"He's a good friend." Blake then said.
Kali immediately deflated in disappointment.
"Just friends?" she asked.
Blake looked down at her cup with a soft, sad smile.
"Yeah. Just friends."
Her smile disappeared as her eyes swam in her reflection in the teacup.
"I had... Someone else."
Kali propped her ears, her hopes of soon being a grandmother reignited.
"Oh ho? May I know more about this mysterious lover of yours?"
Ghira flinched at the word 'lover', bad memories of Adam resurfacing involuntarily. Luckily, the macaque in the room immediately began shining to take him away from those dark memories.
"Ma'am, Hope's like the coolest dude ever!"
"Oh really?" Kali asked, feigning being enraptured.
"Yeah man!" he said, beaming. "Dude didn't even know me and he saved me from a bunch of crooked cops beating me up."
Blake glanced at him as she brought her cup to her lips.
"Weren't they beating you up because you ran away after being caught stowawaying." she countered before loudly sipping.
He waved her down dismissively.
"Details! Anyways, Dude's a class act who always stood up for the little guys!"
Blake nodded, smiling into her cup.
"There used to be this dumbass bully... I forget his name, Cardin something. Used to bully a mutual friend of ours and a bunch of Faunuses. Guy had a whole goon squad backing him up and Hope just kept fighting against them alone."
She chuckled softly.
"One against four. And the funny thing is: he would almost always get beat up but he always ended up protecting the others and making Cardin look like a jobber. It didn't matter how many bruises he got, he always managed to protect Carson's victims."
She smirked mean-spiritedly.
"In the end, he got the last laugh. Managed to corner the bastard after he almost got him and a friend killed when Cardin and his cronies attracted a Grimm. Sent the bastard straight to Fort Castle."
Sun snapped his fingers.
"Right, I heard about that. Didn't Hope choke out an Ursa Major with his bare hands?"
Kali held her mouth while Ghira was believing none of it.
"His bare hands?!" Kali gasped.
"Nah," Blake denied. "That was Jaune, the friend I was talking about. And he didn't choke it out a Major, he beheaded a Minor."
Ghira huffed.
"Thought so."
Blake glanced at her father, squinting critically.
"Sun?"
"Yes?"
"Remember the Breach?"
Sun blew raspberries.
"Oh, don't remind me. I'm ashamed at how little butt we kicked..."
Blake smirked proudly.
"Well duh. He killed all the Grimms that came your way."
Ghira raised a critical brow while Kali blinked incredulously.
"Come again?"
Blake and Sun smiled widely, the latter letting the former tell the tale of how Hope protected a pair of siblings during the breach. She talked of dozens and dozens of sublimating corpses mangled beyond recognition, all surrounding a man with tattered clothes drenched in his own blood as he stood between two kids and the black horde. She spoke of how he only let himself fall into unconsciousness once he was certain they were safe. Kali nodded with a big smile, approving of Blake's choice of lover.
Ghira still wasn't enthused, but he could respect a man who sacrificed himself for the sake of others.
Kali hummed pleasantly, staring at her daughter with excited eyes.
"Goodness gracious, the more I listen the more he sounds like a hero from a storybook!"
The cat nodded as she stared into her tea sadly.
"It does, doesn't it..."
"Fufu~ I wonder when I'll get to meet that incredible man?"
Blake and Sun flinched suddenly, surprising the cougar.
"Did... Did I say something-"
Kali and Ghira's eyes widened when they watched as their daughter bit down on her lip hard enough to cause her Aura to spark. Tears dug trenches into her cheeks as she clenched her cup. Sun rubbed her back supportively, himself wearing a miserable frown. Kali's shock made way for guilt as she realized what was happening.
"Oh... My kitty..."
She and Ghira moved over to the other side of the table and they both embraced their daughter, with Sun scooting back to let them console their daughter. Blake hiccuped as her mother gently held her in her arms.
"I'm so sorry, honey." She begged softly. "I should have guessed."
"I-It's not... It's not your fault..."
Blake sniffled as she devolved into a weeping mess.
"Y-you would've hated him. He smoked, he-he swore like a sailor," A sniffle interrupted her. "H-he gambled and... And he... He spoiled all of us rotten."
She began seizing with hiccuping sobs.
"You- You would've... really hated him..."
Ghira and Kali brought their daughter close as her sob devolved into full-blown ugly blubbering.
She thought that she could be strong in front of her parents, in front of Sun. But the more they talked about Hope, the more the facade broke down. She thought she could power through the pain, the raw wound of her failure to save his life.
But she was powerless before her own emotions, just like how she was powerless before the Jabberwock.
A sudden knock at the door interrupted the moment and helped bring back Blake to reality for just long enough to recompose herself. Ghira hissed angrily.
"What awful timing..."
He kissed his daughter on her forehead.
"I'll be right back. Governor business."
A still tear-stricken Blake nodded listlessly. Blake sniffled as her mother dabbed away her tears with a handkerchief.
"Is everything alright?"
Kali's nose scrunched.
"Yes and no, Their actions have been getting on a lot of nerves and people have asked us to negotiate on their behalf."
Sun and Blake frowned, already guessing who 'They' might be. They glanced at each other and nodded, both agreeing that they needed to know who their enemy at Home was. Both shot to their feet as they marched toward the entrance. The scene before them painted a convenient and reassuring picture as Ghira looked down with barely hidden contempt on a pair of Foxes dressed in White Fang representatives' garbs. The two men in question wore hoods that hid their sandy hair, although, they didn't hide their long ears and fluffy tail respectively. Blake immediately recognized the Albain Twins as they did her. Corsac saw her first and he waved his tail, brushing his brother Fennec's back with a warning to the new arrivals. Both greeted her with a fake smile.
"Ah, Lieuteant Belladonna." Corsac began.
"What a pleasant surprise." Fennec finished.
Every time either one of the two Albain brothers spoke, the other gestured with their hands. Both clasped their hands together.
"We had no clue you had finally returned home," they said in unison, matching words and actions alike in perfect sync.
Blake glared.
"You don't sound surprised."
Sun leaned to Blake.
"Know these creeps?" he whispered.
Fennec's ear flicked involuntarily.
"Fennec and Corsac Albain," Blake explained. "The last time I was here, they were handling paperwork for the Fang. Looks like they got a promotion, though."
She crossed her arms.
"Also, don't bother whispering. Fennec's ears aren't for show."
The fox smiled proudly as he gestured towards Sun.
"Young man, I'm not sure what you've heard of our organization but I can assure you, we're not nearly as ferocious as the media would have you believe."
Blake ground her teeth as Sun crossed his arms in turn.
"Yeah, I don't watch the news anyway." He said.
The twins smiled invitingly.
"Then-"
"What I do believe is what I see. And I saw a lot in Vale."
Sun grimaced angrily.
"And you psychos got people I was friends with killed."
The twins' fake smiles disappeared as they glanced towards the governor, who looked mightily displeased. Corsac sighed, breaking sync with Fennec, who remained stoic.
"It seemed the news has reached your ears, Governor Belladonna."
"Indeed." he frowned witheringly. "And you better have an explanation."
Corsac took the reign, joining his hands together while wearing a false mask of grief.
"Though it pains us to admit, it has become apparent that the Vale branch of the White Fang is no longer operating under the orders of the Interim Supreme High-Chancelor Khan."
Ghira raised a doubtful brow as Fennec continued where his brother left off.
"Rather, they've elected to follow the rule of Commander Adam Taurus. I believe you're all familiar with him and his increasingly extreme actions against the misguided masses of Vale."
Blake scoffed.
"And the Breach of Vale?" she questioned. "Are you going to throw Adam under the bus for that one too?"
Corsac's tail stood stiff with nervousness despite his stony expression.
"The White Fang's High Council had their suspicions of a splinter group, but they could prove nothing until this latest incident"
Both brothers winced as Blake shrieked indignantly, her eyes still red and puffy from her earlier outburst.
"Thousands are dead and you call it an incident?!"
Corsac brought his hands together apologetically.
"My apologies, Miss Belladonna. I did not mean to offend you."
Fennec walked forward, almost shielding his brother from Blake's outrage.
"We came to assure you that Brother Taurus and his followers do not represent the will of the White Fang."
Ghira walked out of the house and stood before the brothers, both wincing at the giant boring down on them.
"Indeed they don't." he scorned. "But just as my daughter alluded to, how can I be certain you're not trying to scapegoat Adam?"
"We understand if you bear any skepticism towards these claims." Fennec tried to soothe. "The White Fang's tactics are admittedly, more aggressive since you stepped down as Supreme High-Chancelor and became governor of Menagerie. But this, this is no way to make our message heard."
Corsac stood next to his brother.
"We have ample documentation from the council meeting," He promised. "As well as several strategies to apprehend and punish these strays if you care to review them."
Ghira uncrossed his arms.
"I certainly will," The governor said, still glaring at the brothers. "But that will be for another day. I'd like some time to reconnect with my daughter."
Both foxes bowed respectfully.
"But of course, governor Belladonna." Corsac said consiliatorily. "We completely understand."
Both men nodded towards the Black Cat of Team RWBY.
"It was a pleasure to see you again, young Blake."
Blake spat in their direction.
"Fuck both of you animals."
The Albains flinched in pure shock, as did Blake's parents. Blake grabbed the door, glaring at the twins one last time.
"And don't come back."
She slammed the door in their faces as they began trembling in impotent anger.
"Stupid human fucker." Corsac spat as he and his irate brother turned back.
Fennec shook his head, waiting until they were far away from the door to speak his mind.
"Ex-sister Belladonna has become quite misguided in her sojourn. Do not take it out on her."
"She was already misguided when she deserted the cause. The fact she got brainwashed further by a human's cock doesn't change her earlier treason!"
"It's just a rumour, Corse."
The tailed brother scoffed.
"If she started calling her fellow Faunus that disgusting word, I'm ready to bet that rumour has more basis in reality than you think."
The eared brother nodded.
"Love does make people pretty stupid."
"Love..." Corsac scoffed. "I bet that human just viewed her as a pet at best."
Fennec paused.
"There is that other rumour about Blake..."
Corsac groaned in disgust.
"I don't care about what she jerks it to, nor her proclivities."
He sighed.
"Let's just go and report to the Lady Khan."
"Let's. I'm sure Shadow-Commander Illia will be thrilled to hear about Blake's return."
Corsac smiled cruelly as he and his stoic brother disappeared into the streets to report their findings to their master.
...
Blake stomped away from the door, only for her father to grab her arm.
"What was that?" he asked, a mix of anger and shock on his face and in his voice. "What words came out of your mouth?"
She snarled.
"You heard me." she ripped her arm out of his grasp. "And you heard him."
She stormed off, running up the stairs. Kali stopped her husband from chasing after her, a gentle hand against his chest.
"Leave her be."
Sun walked to the stairs.
"I got this... I'll keep an eye on her."
Kali nodded with a soft smile.
"Thank you, Sun."
Ghira groaned in disappointment.
"I didn't raise my daughter to use those despicable words!"
"Ghira, she's hurting." she countered. "We both have said things we regret in the throws of anger."
The governor sighed through his nose.
"Just because it's true doesn't excuse it."
"Not an excuse, an explanation."
She crossed her arms, thinking back to what Blake told them.
"But I can't blame her for thinking it if I'm correct in my assumptions."
Ghira looked down, rubbing her head.
"Right..."
Both parents looked back to the stairs. Ghira sighed through his nose.
"We really need to have that talk soon."
Kali looked back at the door where the twins were blown off.
"They didn't sound surprised to see her."
The mother of Blake walked off, a cautious glare in her eyes.
"Looks like I have to do what I do best."
Wind rushed through golden hair as the growl of an engine began slowing down. The yellow mane floated slightly before falling back on Yang's shoulders as Bumblebee finally came to a stop. She sighed as she removed her helmet, looking at the dust prices at the pit stop.
"185..." She snarled. "Ripoff."
She rolled over to the dust pump before turning her bike off and kicking up the stand. She snatched the nozzle and plugged it into her baby, letting it finally eat after so long without a refill. She looked at the rapidly increasing price her baby's lunch was going to cost her. With a pout, she let Bumblebee drink her fill. She glared at the display.
889800...
She flicked the nozzle's trigger quickly, raising it by one hundred Lien.
"C'mon..."
She flicked it again.
890100.
"D'ho, fuck off!" she grumbled as she contemptuously flung the nozzle back on it's stand.
She stomped towards the stop's doors, noticing a grill bar not too far. She hummed pensively until a grumble reminded her that Bumblebee wasn't the only one who was hungry.
"A bit of road grub might help with the monotony of canned food."
She pressed her scroll against the overpriced dust pump and sent the money to pay for Bumblebee's lunch. Once she saw the dent in her bank account, she let a bit of spite through and threw a kick at the offending machine.
Straddling her steed once more, she rode down the road towards her next stop. She stopped in front of the building, a rare mirthful smile on her face once she saw the sign.
"Just Rite." she named. "Cute."
She parked in front, locking her bike down before meandering into the bar. The place looked like an old saloon, save for the comparatively modern gas stove and grill setup. The place was mostly devoid of people, save for some shady guy day drinking and some guy in a bitchin' hood cradling a sweet cocktail. The two conversed, the former looking like the only reason he hadn't had a mental breakdown yet was due to the whiskey coursing through his veins. The hooded man had his strange, familiar smile on his face as he brought his drink to his lips with his oddly patterned black-clad hand.
Yang sat down a few seats down from the hooded man and the shady guy. The bartender nodded towards her as he polished a glass.
"Poison?" he asked.
She smirked.
"Dihydrogen monoxide."
The hooded guy snorted before continuing his discussion with the desperate-looking shady man. The bartender handed her a nice bottle of water and a small menu. She looked at the expectedly small selection and tapped on the spiced grilled fish with steak fries. The man nodded.
"Good choice. One fish and chips coming up."
As she waited for her lunch to arrive, she pulled out her scroll and checked the connection. Better than Vale, but anything is better than a literal pile of rubble. The connection was bad enough that she didn't bother trying to send a message to Ruby. She sighed as she put her scroll back in her pocket.
"Goddamn it..."
The shady man downed his glass with a half choke.
"Fuck's sake..." he complained. "Why the fuck did he need to have business with her!?"
The hooded man took a sip, the taste of chocolate and cream masking the burn of alcohol.
"Because Raven is the key to his plans going just right," he said.
Yang didn't show it, but once she heard that name, she paid close attention. Her previous lead on Raven's whereabouts was a bust, her father's info had turned out to be outdated. She kept looking around, investigating hearsay and activity reports on the Branwen Clan. She was stubborn enough to not just quit but it seemed like her persistence would be rewarded at last. The shady man groaned.
"The moment she sees me-"
"You'll be fine, Shay." the hooded man interrupted. "Trust me, the moment she hears the message, she'll let you go."
"How can you be so sure!?" Shay demanded. "For all I know, that scarred freak's message is going to get me tortured to death!"
'Scars...' Yang thought.
Her mind wandered back home, to the scarred man in her life. Her hands balled into fists as her expression morphed into a regretful frown. The image of his betrayed expression and the hurt in his voice was like a vice grip on her heart.
'Damn it...' she breathed out mentally. 'Why did I... why did I say it like that?'
She sighed to herself, already aware of her own reasoning.
'I had to.' She tried to justify to herself. 'He must not leave Patch or else he'll get himself killed again.'
Her thoughts were interrupted by that Shay guy, now with another glass or two down his gullet. Sadly, he wasn't ways away like before, he was right next to hers.
"Well, I'll be damned! And here I thought young beauties didn't travel alone."
The hooded man cringed in amusement. He wasn't looking like he was going to intervene but something nagged at Yang. It was like he knew she could easily deal with this Shay guy, a strange sort of confidence in her. But it almost looked like it entertained him to watch the drunk man trying to pick up a girl half his age. He turned and crossed his legs, a playful smile on his face.
"Oh dear me, here we go." the hooded man smirked as he sipped on his beverage.
Shay continued.
"Maybe we can change that?"
Yang rolled her eyes.
"Thanks, pal." she thanked sarcastically. "But I'm good."
"Seriously..." Shay leered while rambling, his eyes wandering disgustingly. "Not too bulky, not too lean... You're just-"
"Just Right, I know." she cut off abruptly. "Like I said, I'm good."
The shady man reached for her head, a tipsy sway in his movement.
"And your hair-"
Before he could blink, he was on the floor with his arm behind his back, his wrist and shoulder creaking under the strain of Yang's strength. Shay moaned in pain as he knelt. Yang slowly brought her face next to his, his pained and afraid glance meeting her blood-red eyes.
"Try and touch my hair again, and you're a dead man." she threatened lowly.
The hooded man chuckled as he leaned forward to get a better view.
"oooh, that angle's nasty! just a little more pressure and..."
He made a loud popping noise with his lips, eliciting a cringe from a now-sober Shay.
"HELP ME, FOR DARK'S SAKE!" Shay yelled.
The hooded man scoffed in amusement.
"I'm just an outsider in this conflict!" he said flippantly. "I have nothing to do with this."
He propped up his arm on the counter and leaned his head on it, swirling the liquor in his glass with his other hand.
"I'm just here to enjoy the drama~"
Yang glared at the hooded man before looking down at the creep who tried to touch her.
"I heard you were going to see Raven Branwen."
Shay groaned in pain.
"Y-yes... I have a message for her..."
Yang sneered.
"Good. So do I."
She let go of Shay but as she did, she threw her arms back and unfurled her Ember Silicas.
"And you'll show me the way," she demanded.
Shay sighed in defeat.
"Godsdamnit..." he flopped to the ground. "Fine... What's one more crazy Huntsman to offer for?"
Yang nodded as she sat back down on her stool.
"Good."
She joined her hands as she leaned on the counter, resting her forehead on her tented appendages. She stared listlessly into the void as her rudimentary plan finally materialized.
'The sooner I find Raven, the sooner I can get to Ruby.' She thought.
Her sneer worsened, turning into an ugly grimace.
'And once I'm with Ruby... we can get payback against Cinder.'
A slight clatter of a plate hitting the counter interrupted her thoughts. the barman smiled as he gave her the plate.
"On the house," he announced. "That guy was driving me crazy."
Shay groaned from the ground, weakly lifting his hand to flip him the bird. Yang smiled at the barman but noticed an addition to her order she didn't ask for.
A Strawberry Sunrise.
She held the sweet cocktail in front of her and glanced at the barman curiously.
"This too?" she said lifting the glass.
The barman shook his head.
"Actually, Hood over there ordered it for you."
The hooded man swung his leg playfully as he lifted his glass, his eyes meeting hers briefly.
With one look into his red X-shaped pupils, she realized he was anything but human.
"Cheers, luv," he said with a mysterious smile. "To yours, and your family's, health."
She looked into her glass, almost expecting some kind of strange happenings to appear in the glass. All she was met with was her favourite red and orange layered cocktail. She nodded and lifted her glass, her eyes downcast with sadness.
"To those we love and cherish..."
She took a long swig of her drink, almost slamming the glass to pieces on the counter. She grimaced sadly, her tightening grip almost cracking the glass.
'And to the forgiveness I hope I'll earn once we're back home...'
APOCRYPHA: END
NEXT?